The heart is a pump that does what it is told to by the brain—so went the scientific understandings of the brain-heart relationship for half of the 19th and much of the 20th century. Now, however, new research is showing the idea that the heart is a mere handmaiden to the brain is false. In fact, findings suggest that an older wisdom of the heart, reflected in sources as diverse as the Pensees of Pascal and the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, provides a more accurate view. Indeed, new evidence demonstrates that the heart has a mind all its own, which influences the brain quite significantly!
Here, in summary, are some key findings about the “psychology” of the heart:
• A system of neurons, “brain cells,” exists in at least seven sites in the heart. These cardiac neurons store and transmit powerful signals that affect emotional attention in every day life, and deeply-felt attitudes and beliefs, as well. In fact, there are seven neuronal inputs from heartto- brain for every one going from brain-to-heart.
• A growing body of research shows the heart to be capable of learning, remembering and “deep knowing” that occurs independent of the cranial brain. Pascal’s sage observation that “the heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of” is, it seems, correct!
• In addition to neuronal influences upon the brain, the heart also exerts hormonal and electromagnetic impacts. The hormone, atrial natriuretic factor, calms and balances processes in brain and body. As a rhythmic generator, the heart broadcasts an electromagnetic field so strong it trains brain waves to mirror its rhythms, whether these are coherent or chaotic.
These findings provide strong evidence that the heart plays a central role in both immediate emotional processing and longer-term awareness. The Book of Proverbs contains this wisdom, “As in water, face answers face, so the heart… reflects the (person).” (Proverbs 27:19) Scientific findings have shown that heart-generated emotions do indeed lead to entrainment of brain waves that can become repetitive, habitual moods. Thus, emotional memories that are regularly accessed by the heart may begin to become characteristics (e.g. sarcastic, suspicious, open and loving) by which the person becomes known.
More knowledge of the heart’s influence has given rise to some straightforward technologies for applying the heart to empower health. At our clinic we are teaching people one of these technologies, called heart math. This simple biofeedback program helps people learn to create powerful, positive heart-focused emotions, then direct those emotions to achieve health-embracing entrainment of brain waves. Much more than a course in the power of positive thinking, heart math is helping adults and children to reduce tension, think more creatively under pressure and even overcome multiple performance anxieties.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are two more empirical findings which suggest that the “language of the heart” is more than mere poetic dreaming:
• “When I saw him (her) my heart stood still.” Turns out, it does. Experiment participants were “wired” for physiological indicators of attention (e.g. respiration, blood pressure, muscle tension) then told to press a button as quickly as possible when an unpredictable tone would sound. As the experiment progressed all of the physiological markers increased, but just milliseconds before the tone (which the participant had no conscious clue was coming) the heart suddenly slowed significantly. It was as if participants’ hearts “knew” what they could not have known!
• “Our hearts beat as one.” Through investigations at a West Coast research institute* electrocardiographic (ECG) data showed although pairs of participants began with distinctly different ECG profiles, after a few minutes of meaningful dialogue, their rhythmic patterns were nearly identical.
*For more information go to www.heartmath.com. tpw
Here, in summary, are some key findings about the “psychology” of the heart:
• A system of neurons, “brain cells,” exists in at least seven sites in the heart. These cardiac neurons store and transmit powerful signals that affect emotional attention in every day life, and deeply-felt attitudes and beliefs, as well. In fact, there are seven neuronal inputs from heartto- brain for every one going from brain-to-heart.
• A growing body of research shows the heart to be capable of learning, remembering and “deep knowing” that occurs independent of the cranial brain. Pascal’s sage observation that “the heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of” is, it seems, correct!
• In addition to neuronal influences upon the brain, the heart also exerts hormonal and electromagnetic impacts. The hormone, atrial natriuretic factor, calms and balances processes in brain and body. As a rhythmic generator, the heart broadcasts an electromagnetic field so strong it trains brain waves to mirror its rhythms, whether these are coherent or chaotic.
These findings provide strong evidence that the heart plays a central role in both immediate emotional processing and longer-term awareness. The Book of Proverbs contains this wisdom, “As in water, face answers face, so the heart… reflects the (person).” (Proverbs 27:19) Scientific findings have shown that heart-generated emotions do indeed lead to entrainment of brain waves that can become repetitive, habitual moods. Thus, emotional memories that are regularly accessed by the heart may begin to become characteristics (e.g. sarcastic, suspicious, open and loving) by which the person becomes known.
More knowledge of the heart’s influence has given rise to some straightforward technologies for applying the heart to empower health. At our clinic we are teaching people one of these technologies, called heart math. This simple biofeedback program helps people learn to create powerful, positive heart-focused emotions, then direct those emotions to achieve health-embracing entrainment of brain waves. Much more than a course in the power of positive thinking, heart math is helping adults and children to reduce tension, think more creatively under pressure and even overcome multiple performance anxieties.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are two more empirical findings which suggest that the “language of the heart” is more than mere poetic dreaming:
• “When I saw him (her) my heart stood still.” Turns out, it does. Experiment participants were “wired” for physiological indicators of attention (e.g. respiration, blood pressure, muscle tension) then told to press a button as quickly as possible when an unpredictable tone would sound. As the experiment progressed all of the physiological markers increased, but just milliseconds before the tone (which the participant had no conscious clue was coming) the heart suddenly slowed significantly. It was as if participants’ hearts “knew” what they could not have known!
• “Our hearts beat as one.” Through investigations at a West Coast research institute* electrocardiographic (ECG) data showed although pairs of participants began with distinctly different ECG profiles, after a few minutes of meaningful dialogue, their rhythmic patterns were nearly identical.
*For more information go to www.heartmath.com. tpw